On Monday, we drove and then spent several hours at the Makoshika State park. To quote the park flyer:
Here at Makoshika, the badlands expose older rocks layers than those in the badlands of the Dakotas.We stopped at the Visitors Center and learned about some of the fossils that have been found in layers of sedimentary rock.
I always enjoy reading whatever information I can before exploring a park. In this case the VC information gave a context and time line to the many layers we could see in the rock formations carved away by the Yellowstone River and other geological forces over the ages.
We took a short walk along one of the nearest trails, but because it was pretty warm we didn't go very far or climb the rather steep hills.
We have learned a new word this month. "Coulee" from the French Couleé, meaning to flow. We have just always called them gullies.
These good looking horses were gathered under a tree in the parking area. As with cattle, many horses are allowed to go wherever they want on the open rangeland in Montana. We could tell they were not wild, because the smallest of them bore a brand on its butt. I could see only one mark on the adults.
On Tuesday we went to the Dinosaur Museum. We learned that it was sponsored by the "Foundation Advancing Creation Truth", and that the dinosaurs were presented "in biblical context". Which means they are presented as if all the dinosaurs lived within the last six thousand years or so. I decided I didn't want to go in.
